Continuous Verb Tenses: Past, Present and Future
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Basics on the topic Continuous Verb Tenses: Past, Present and Future
Progressive or Continuous Verb Tenses – Introduction
Verbs are action words that help us describe what a person or object is doing. Some examples of verbs are: fly, close, explain, pass. Verb tenses help us show that actions happen in the past, present, or future.
Progressive (Continuous) Verb Tenses – Definition
Progressive verb tenses describe ongoing actions. They show an action that is, was, or will be happening at some point in time. Progressive verb tense uses a helping verb to be and the main verb of the action that ends with -ing.
For example:
| Noun | Helping verb “to be” |
Main verb ending with “-ing” |
|---|---|---|
| The girl | is | smiling. |
| The car | was | coming. |
| Friends | will be | dancing. |
Progressive Verb Tenses – Present
When the action happens in the present tense, we use helping verbs am, is, or are.
We use the helping verb am with the pronoun I, the helping verb is with pronouns he, she, it, and the helping verb are with pronouns we, you, they. For example:
I am preparing for a maths test.
He is preparing for a maths test.
We are preparing for a maths test.
In the sentences above, preparing is the main verb, or action, and am, is and are are the helping verb forms of to be. The present progressive verb tense am / is / are preparing tells us this is an ongoing action and it is happening now – in the present tense.
Progressive Verb Tenses – Past
When the action happened in the past, we use helping verbs was or were.
We use the helping verb was with the pronouns I, he, she, and it, and the helping verb were with pronouns we, you, they. For example:
I was jogging early in the morning.
She was jogging early in the morning.
They were jogging early in the morning.
In the sentences above, jogging is the main verb, or action, and was and were are our helping verb forms of the verb to be. The past progressive verb tense was / were jogging tells us this ongoing action already happened and is in the past tense.
Progressive Verb Tenses – Future
When the action will happen in the future, we use helping verb will be.
We use the helping verb will be with all pronouns. For example:
I will be swimming in the river.
It will be swimming in the river.
You will be swimming in the river.
In the sentences above, swimming is the main verb, or action, and will be is the helping verb form of the verb to be. The future progressive verb tense will be swimming tells us this ongoing action is going to happen in the future.
Progressive Verb Tenses – Summary
Let’s review what we have learned about progressive tenses.
Verb tenses show that actions happen in the past, present, or future. Progressive verb tenses describe ongoing actions. They show an action that is, was, or will be happening at some point in time.
Progressive verb tense uses a helping verb to be and the main verb that ends with -ing. When the action happens in the present, we use helping verbs am, is, or are. When the action happened in the past, we use helping verbs was or were. When the action will happen in the future, we use helping verb will be.
Now you know everything about progressive verb tenses! For more practice, download our worksheets, and watch our interactive video!
Frequently Asked Questions about Progressive Verb Tenses
Transcript Continuous Verb Tenses: Past, Present and Future
"What an incredible experience we are having! We need to share this on our sofagram account!" "Yes, let's upload our pictures and write captions that make everyone feel like they are right here with us." In order for Koko and Pip to have their followers feel a part of the action, they need to use continuous verb tenses. Verbs are action words, like dance. Verb tenses show when an action happens. Tenses can show whether an action is happening in the present, has happened in the past or will happen in the future. Continuous verb tenses describe the verb as in progress. It tells us about an action that is, was, or will be happening at a point in time. Continuous verb tenses use a form of the verb ‘to be’ and the main verb that ends with -ing. When the action is happening right now, in the present, and we want to write it using the present continuous, we use the verb form of 'to be': Is, am, or are. For the past continuous, we use the verb form of 'to be': was or were. For the future continuous, we use the verb form of 'to be': will be. Let's look at the continuous verb tenses of some of Koko and Pip's Great Barrier Reef posts to see when the action took place. Pip and I are jumping up and down with excitement! The main verb, or action, of this sentence is jumping and the verb form of 'to be' is are. The words: 'are jumping' tells us that this ongoing action is happening now and is in the present continuous. Pip was having trouble with his snorkel gear! The main verb of this sentence is ‘having’ and the verb form of 'to be' is: was. The words, 'was having' tells us this ongoing action already happened and is in the past continuous tense. We will be diving under the water to explore the Coral Reef. What is the verb form of 'to be' and main verb of this sentence? ‘Will be' is the verb form of 'to be' and 'diving' is the main verb. ‘Will be diving' is in the future continuous verb tense and lets us know that this event is going to happen in the future. Let's practise using continuous verb tenses by filling in the blanks on these sofagram posts. Read this sentence and fill in the blank with the tense that shows this action is happening now. ‘Are' is the present tense form of 'to be'. Koko and Pip are snorkelling through the Great Barrier Reef. Read this sentence and fill in the blank with the tense that shows this action will happen in the future. Koko and Pip will be planning another trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Read this sentence and fill in the blank with the tense that shows this action has already happened. Koko and Pip were waving goodbye to all the sea life. While Koko and Pip head back to shore, let's summarise. Verb tenses show when an action happens. Continuous verb tenses describe ongoing actions. Continuous verb tenses use an additional verb form of ‘to be’ and the main verb of the action that ends with -ing. When the action happens in the present tense we use the verb forms: is, am, or are. When the action happened in the past, we use the verb forms: was or were. When the action will happen in the future, we use the verb form: will be. "I bet everyone is enjoying our posts!" "Oh, we forgot to hit share! No! No!”
Continuous Verb Tenses: Past, Present and Future exercise
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Help Pip and Koko remember the rules of progressive (continuous) verb tenses.
HintsProgressive verb tenses use a helping verb.
Progressive verb tenses are used to describe events happening in the past, present or future.
An example of a past progressive sentence is: I was studying all night last night!
An example of a present progressive sentence is: I am learning Spanish at school.
An example of a future progressive sentence is: I will be playing football later.
SolutionProgressive verb tenses use the helping verb "to be".
For the present tense, we use the helping verbs is, am or are.
Progressive tense uses the letters -ing at the end of the main action verb (not the helping verb). -
Determine which sentences are in the progressive tense and which are not.
HintsThe progressive tense always has a main action verb ending in "-ing".
The progressive tense uses the verb "to be" as a helping verb.
The sentence, "I go to school Monday - Friday" is not progressive because there is no helping verb and the main verb does not end in "-ing".
SolutionThe sentences, I am going swimming, The girl is dancing and We are studying English all use the helping verb "to be" and have a main action verb ending in "-ing". These sentences use the progressive tense.
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Identify the helping verb and main verb in each sentence.
HintsIn the progressive tense, the main action verb will always end in "-ing".
The helping verb always comes before the main verb.
SolutionThe verbs, are, will be, was and am are all forms of the helping verb "to be". The verbs, jumping, swimming, having and going all end in "-ing". These are the main verbs.
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Determine which sentences are in the past, present or future progressive tense.
HintsOnly one sentence is future progressive. Can you find this sentence first?
Two sentences are past progressive. Can you find these next?
SolutionPast Tense Progressive
- I was dancing all day.
- You were sleeping all morning.
- I am reading my new book.
- You are singing too loudly!
- The cat is climbing carefully.
- I will be watching TV all day!
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What is included in progressive tense sentences?
HintsThe helping verb "to be'' takes the form was or were in the past tense; am, is, or are in the present tense; and will be in the future tense.
There are two correct answers.
SolutionThe progressive tense always uses the helping verb "to be'', and has a main action verb ending with the letters -ing.
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Complete the sentences using the knowledge you have learned about progressive verb tenses.
HintsLook for time phrases, such as every day, yesterday or next year to show you if a sentence is in the past, present, or future.
Always add the letters -ing to the end of the main verb.
Look becomes looking.
Play becomes playing.
Swim becomes swimming.SolutionThe keywords, right now and every day, shows us the sentence is present progressive tense.
The keywords, this morning and yesterday, shows us the sentence is past progressive tense.
The keyword, next year, shows us the sentence is future progressive tense.
